IBM
is beefing up its mobile credentials to help organizations manage the influx of
mobile devices into the enterprises as part of the bring-your-own-device (BYOD)
trend.
IBM
rolled out an endpoint manager for mobile devices running Apple iOS, Google
Android, Nokia Symbian, and Microsoft Windows Mobile and Windows Phone mobile
platforms, the company said Jan. 31. Interestingly enough, IBM omitted Research
In Motion's BlackBerry platform from its mobile software.
IBM
Endpoint Manager for Mobile Devices helps organizations manage and secure the
rapidly expanding number of mobile devices that are being brought to the
corporate offices and being used to connect to company networks and access
corporate data, IBM said. The software provides organizations with a single platform
to secure and manage all endpoints, including smartphones, tablets, laptops,
desktop PCs and servers.
"The
new offering from IBM will help organizations manage personal and
enterprise-owned mobile phones and tablets across IT networks in order to
minimize risk, increase productivity and enhance innovation," said Bob
Sutor, vice president of IBM Mobile Platform.
Endpoint
Manager extends the capabilities that IBM gained as part of its Big Fix
acquisition in 2010. Big Fix software was designed to manage and secure
servers, desktops, roaming laptops and point-of-sale devices. The new Endpoint
Manager extends the Big Fix features to the mobile platform, according to IBM.
With
Endpoint Manager, organizations can selectively wipe data from devices when lost
or stolen, as well as enforce passcode policies and the use of encryption on
these devices. The software can also be configured to require employees to use
a VPN when accessing the enterprise network.
IT
administrators will be able to install the IBM software relatively quickly and
begin remotely setting policies, identifying potential data compromises and
wiping data off the devices, IBM said.
Both
employee-owned and personal devices can be secured by a single platform that
uses a combination of email-based and agent-based management tools. IT staff will
be able to identify devices that are not complying with corporate policies and
take appropriate action, such as denying email access or by issuing
notifications to the user device as a reminder on what remedial steps need to
be performed, according to IBM.
Organizations
need mobile security and management policies in place to take advantage of the
BYOD trend, according to Sutor.
A
number of security companies are rolling out new products to make remote wipes
and endpoint management easier for mobile devices. In Cisco's second annual
"Connected World Technology Report" released last November, more than
half of young professionals and college students said they'd rather lose their
wallets or purses before losing their mobile devices.
McAfee
just updated its
Mobile Security software on Jan. 30 with new capabilities to protect mobile
devices from Web threats as well as from data leakage in case of loss or theft.
In
a separate announcement, IBM acquired private company Worklight, an Israeli
company that makes smartphone and tablet software. The acquisition is part of
IBM's push into the mobile space and will "advance" IBM's portfolio
by providing clients with an open platform that will speed up application
delivery to multiple mobile devices. Watchlight will also securely connect
smartphone and tablet applications with enterprise IT systems.
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